Improvement in machines for reaping and mowing



5mi@ Mm www vvv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL SHEETS, SAMUEL H. DUBOIS, AND JOHN B. PRESSEY, OF SUISUN CITY,CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR REAPING AND MOWING.

. I Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 28,782, dated June19, 1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, DANIEL SHEETS, SAM- UEL H. DUBoIs, and JOHN B.PREssEY, of Suisun City, in the county of Solano and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Reaping andVMowing Machines; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,forming a partof this specification, in which-Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the reaping and mowingmachine; Fig. 2, a bottom view of it,.and Fig. 3 a side view of thecam-Wheel.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several figures indicatecorresponding parts.

c The nature of our invention consists in the combination of theforWard-and-backward reciprocating cutter, with the stationaryspearshaped lingers or cutters constructed, arranged, and operatingtogether in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use our invention, wewill proceed to describe its construction and operation.

The platform j' of this reaping and mowing machine is attached to aframe, lop, which frame serves also for supporting the axles of the twowheels A A', one on each side of the platform.

The tongue e is arranged in line with one of the two wheels, A, and isfulcrumed at d by means of a pin passing through the tongue and througha pair of brackets, q q, extending from the frame op in front of wheelA. The short end of the tongue, behind the fulcrumpin d, is linked tothe short arm of a lever, a, by means of a connecting-rod, 0.l Thefulcrum of said lever is at b. The upper end of the lever a passesthrough a slot in the part s of the frame of the machine, near thedrivers seat r. The driver can set the lever higher or lower in saidslot, thereby raising or lowering the front end of the tongue e for thepurpose of adjusting the cutting apparatus infront of the platform tothe proper height above the ground.

The cutting apparatus consists of stationary fingers or cutters H,spear-shaped, as seen at l1. h Fig. 1. These fingers H are fastened tothe under side of the platform, somewhat in rear of its front edge. Thetop surface of these fingers is perfectly smooth and a zigzagshapedcutter, G, rests upon said top surface o f the vngers H. Each of thepoints ot' the cutter Gr is provided with a divider, g, and the cutter Gis so formed that each point and divider will be at equal distances fromthe two next fingers H. The zigzag edges of the cutter g G, as well asthe inside edges of the wings h h of the spear-shaped fingers H, aresharpened. The cutters are attached to a frame, F n, which receives aforward-and-backward reciprocating motion, in a manner hereinafter to bedescribed.

As the cutters move forward the grass or grain is pressed sidewiseagainst the side edges of the fingers H by the dividers g, and is cut bythe action of the sharp edges of cutter Gr against the sharp edges ofthe wings and sides of the fingers H.

The frame F n. is arranged underneath the platformf, and is hung to onearm of a lever, D, by means of a connecting-rod, E. The 1ever isfulcrumed at 7c, and its other arm is connected to the lower end of alever, B B', by means of a connecting-rod, C. The lever B B is pivo'tedto the frame ofthe machine at i,

and its curved part B is provided with two friction -rollers, j -j, oneat each side and at some distance from the fulcruni t'. Thesefriction-rollers rest against the undulating surface of a cam, I,fastened to the spokes of the Wheel A. As the wheel revolves thefriction-rollers are alternately raised and lowered by the action of theundulating surface of cam I against them, and thus the lower end, B', ofthe lever B B receives a reciprocating motion, which is transmitted tothe frame F n and cutter Cr by means of the leverage C D E, abovedescribed.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

The combination of the forward and back- Ward reciprocating cutter withthe stationary' spear-shaped lingers or cutters, constructed, arranged,and operating together in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

DANIEL SHEETS. vSAMUEL H. DUBOIS.

JOHN B. PRESSEY'. Witnesses:

J. G. LAWToN, Jr., J oIIN I. PEKo.

